Rob Chudzinski's first impression as an NFL head coach is the last thing he wished for.

His first Cleveland Browns team is in danger of tying for the team's worst record since 2000. The Browns have gone 4-12 in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2011, and will be 4-12 unless they win Sunday as heavy underdogs at Pittsburgh.

Chudzinski proactively addressed this theme in the wake of a road loss to the Jets, saying before he said anything else:

"I know how important this team is to this region and to the fans. We're going to keep fighting to get this thing turned around."

The record will be a turn for the worse unless the Browns surprise the Steelers.

Even with a loss at Pittsburgh to end the 2012 season, the Browns were 5-11. Head coach Pat Shurmur was fired the next day.

Some fans clamored for Bill Cowher, some for Jon Gruden. Chip Kelly got an interview. Marc Trestman and Doug Marrone were considered. Bruce Arians wanted an interview but was judged to be too old (he is 61) or not enough … something.

Cowher and Gruden never emerged. The others did, in assorted and in some cases embarrassing (to the Browns) ways.

Kelly pounced on Andy Reid's old job in Philadelphia. His Eagles lead the NFC East at 9-6 after erasing Chicago 54-11, a week after the Browns lost to the Bears. Philadelphia went 4-12 in 2012.

Marrone landed in Buffalo. His Bills are 6-9 but have stayed thirsty, spanking playoff hopeful Miami 19-0 on Sunday. A week earlier, the Bills won at Jacksonville, which was coming off a win at Cleveland.

Arians went to Arizona, which is riding high at 10-5 after a win at Seattle, which almost never loses at home and came in with a 12-2 record. The Cardinals were 5-11 last year, when Ray Horton was defensive coordinator on Ken Whisenhunt's staff.

The Browns either didn't have or didn't take a shot at Reid, who jumped from the Eagles to Kansas City. The Chiefs were 2-14 last year. They are 11-4 now.

Their stories are part of the question that maddens Browns fans. Why do good things and turnarounds seem to happen everywhere except Cleveland?

Trestman is having trouble in Chicago after replacing Lovie Smith, who was fired despite a 10-6 finish in 2012. Still, his Bears have a winning record, 8-7.

San Diego's first-year head coach, Mike McCoy, has the Chargers in the playoff hunt at 8-7 going into a home game against the Chiefs. The Chargers fired Norv Turner after a 7-9 season.

Jacksonville is in its first year under Gus Bradley. Whereas the Jaguars have the same record, 4-11, as Cleveland, they beat the Browns. And whereas Chudzinski's team is in a 1-9 cold snap, Bradley's is in a 4-3 warming trend.

Page 2 of 2 - Looking at the seven head coaches who took over teams in January, Chudzinski's is having the most painful December, by a wide margin.

Browns fans are hoping hard this is not a hopeless case.

Chudzinski had his team in the hunt in three recent games, holding fourth-quarter leads against the Patriots, Jaguars and Bears.

After a freakish loss to New England, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick congratulated the Browns, saying, "They outcoached us and outplayed us in every area."

The most recent game, however, was a turkey, a feckless 24-13 loss to a Jets team that had been floundering behind a lost rookie quarterback.

Chudzinski conducted his shortest Monday-after news conference of the year, but there was time for a laundry list from a long Sunday. To wit:

• "We're not happy with the performance as coaches and players."

• "We got blocked out of our gaps."

• "On some of their runs we lost contain."

• "We had a lot of one-on-ones we didn't win."

• "We didn't get enough (pass-rushing) pressure to make a difference."

• "Turnovers, red zone, third downs were a problem."

And so on.

Chudzinski keeps sounding convinced the Browns are close to finding the right side of the fine line.

"All those things were just off," he said. "We need to make them so they're just on."

Getting the light to come on at Pittsburgh would be of only momentary consequence.

Who would care that the team got to 5-11? Didn't Eric Mangini make it to 5-11 with help from a win over Pittsburgh a few years ago?

Who will be ready to bite on the thought Chudzinski has a grip unless and until the Browns get through next October with a winning record?

This season peaked when they were 3-2 after a 37-24 conquest of Buffalo on Oct. 3. Then it got dark again.

"There's hope," Chudzinski said. "We've made strides in some areas.

"I'm not happy. Nobody's happy.

"But overall, I think there's a group of guys, a core, that's going to be the foundation. I'm very confident in our future and the success we're going to have."

Other teams that had run aground last year are enjoying success now. It's hard to make rhetoric fly in one place when results are coming to roost elsewhere.